• Means of Ascent

  • The Years of Lyndon Johnson
  • By: Robert A. Caro
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 22 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,681 ratings)

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Means of Ascent  By  cover art

Means of Ascent

By: Robert A. Caro
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's summary

Robert A. Caro's life of Lyndon Johnson, which began with the greatly acclaimed The Path to Power, also winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, continues - one of the richest, most intensive, and most revealing examinations ever undertaken of an American President. In Means of Ascent, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer/historian, chronicler also of Robert Moses in The Power Broker, carries Johnson through his service in World War II and the foundation of his long-concealed fortune and the facts behind the myths he created about it. But the explosive heart of the book is Caro's revelation of the true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, for 40 years shrouded in rumor, which Johnson had to win or face certain political death, and which he did win -- by "the 87 votes that changed history."

Caro makes us witness to a momentous turning point in American politics: the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new - the politics of issue versus the politics of image, mass manipulation, money and electronic dazzle.

©1990 Robert A. Caro, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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"If You Do Everything, You'll Win"

The second installment of Robert Caro's "The Years of Lyndon Johnson" is, in essence, an exposé.

Robert Caro's almost singular focus on LBJ--he has spent over 40 years chronicling events of the 36th president's life--has resulted in Robert Caro himself becoming part of the story. He has been accused of bias and thinly veiled contempt, for going out of his way to make his subject a caricature and a spectacle for his readers. While I do not agree with such assessments, this volume is Exhibit A for Johnson apologists who prefer to view the 36th president through rose-colored glasses.

Caro is very careful to document Johnson’s monumental impact on the body politic and recognizes that he is a seminal figure in American history. There are noble achievements that are diligently fleshed out and contextualized for the reader in order for their remarkability to be noted. In the first volume (The Path to Power) he shows how Johnson transformed the lives of poor farmers in the Texas hill country by means of rural electrification. In the third volume (Master of the Senate-broken up into three volumes here on Audible) he shows how Johnson tamed the nearly ungovernable Senate to have the first civil rights legislation passed in nearly a century at that time. In the fourth volume he shows how Johnson was the one who made Kennedy’s idealism begin to have concrete legislative movement once the presidency devolved to him and he occupied the oval office. However, Caro freely admits to the reader in the second volume that the complex alternation of light and dark is not present during this segment of Johnson’s life. It’s all dark.

This volume is a story of Johnson’s time in the military (Johnson saw one day of actual combat and only as an observer); how Johnson used political influence to amass an immense fortune (when Johnson became president he may have been the richest man to do so up to that point); and how Johnson won the democratic primary for the open senate seat in 1948. In a one-party state as Texas was at that time, winning the primary was tantamount to winning the election. (I leave it to the listener to find out how he did that.) And, sadly, Johnson’s treatment of his wife, Lady Bird, is on full display here and will make the listener wince--often.

All that being said, this volume is so funny in spots I needed a tissue to wipe the tears from my eyes. There is a reason Caro has devoted most of his professional life writing about Lyndon Baines Johnson: he is a complex man, a larger-than-life figure, a man with an indomitable will to power, a man who wanted the presidency his entire life, a man who said, “If you do everything, you’ll win” and DID do everything. The roman orator Cicero wrote that no immoral act can be expedient. Johnson did NOT read Cicero…

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LBJ: WWII, Congress, & run in 1948 for US Senate

"A platform, he said in his dry way, was like a Mother Hubbard dress: it covered everything and touched nothing. Platforms and campaign promises were meaningless; politicians issued them or made them, and then as soon as they were elected forgot them."
- Robert A. Caro, Means of Ascent, quoting Coke Stephenson

This was a different book from Caro's Vol. 1 of the Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power. 'The Path to Power' detailed the rise and early history of LBJ. It set the table. It showed LBJ as a boy, showed the Hill Country. It described his father (so much of LBJ can be explained by his complicated relationship to his father). It moved through LBJ's college career, early political connections, and how all the attributes that made LBJ who he was were formed. It ended as LBJ lost the 1941 election for the US Senate to W. Lee O'Daniel. He basically had the election, out stolen from him. He lost focus too soon.

This book starts off with LBJ's brief stint in the Navy after Pearl Harbor, his attempt and failure to move up in D.C. (with FDR, with Truman, in congress with the Party). He was stuck. So it moves on to LBJ using the power he had, to buy a radio station in Austin. One that would later be the source of his and Lady Bird's enormous wealth (it is amazing how many of our politicos enter DC rich and leave quite rich).

The last half of the book details the 1948 Senate election when LBJ ran against Coke Stephenson for the Texas Senate seat. At this point, it becomes almost a dual biography. One of opposites. Coke was old school, honest, thoughtful, popular, low key. In many ways he resembled LBJ's father. Caro never said it directly, but in many ways he didn't need to. LBJ's character was formed as a reaction to his father's unwillingness to get into the gutter. LBJ was all ends. He would use whatever MEANS were required. And in 1948, that meant MONEY and corruption.

Anyway, it was hard to decide to give this 5-stars. It wasn't as impressive a book, in some ways, as Vol 1. However, it was beautiful. I loved reading about Coke. Coke was a good counterbalance to LBJ's style. But it is hard, too, not to admire LBJ's work ethic and his ability to take enormous risks and sometimes his brilliant ability to read and use people.

The book is also a lesson on how we are also suckered by the exact things we think we want badly. I'm pretty sure, the men who bought/brought LBJ into office certainly loved some of the things he did, but I'm not sure they would ever have thought their "Man" would eventually pass the Civil Rights Act and much of his great society agenda. Eventually, many would come to regret their man. LBJ was never anyone's man.

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Both Fascinating and Tedious

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an absolutely fascinating book and an amazing demonstration of how good it can be when world class research and top notch writing come together. Add in Grover Gardner, one of my favorite readers and you have a great, great story.

Any additional comments?

My only criticism is that there is far too much overlap between this book and the previous book in the series the Path to Power. Both are very worthy books on their own, but it felt like perhaps 20% of this book was directly copied from the Path to Power. Same stories, same wording. It seems as though Robert Caro literally copied and pasted big sections into the 2nd book. Still very worthwhile, but large sections become tedious in this regard.

Now I am rather afraid to listen to the first volume of Master of the Senate in case Caro continues to plagiarize himself! (But I will anyway)

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LBJ and the New Politics

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This volume is the narrowest in scope of the four volumes. But it is not a lesser book. It focuses on the Texas Senate race between LBJ and Coke Stevenson in 1948. That may sound boring but it is far from that and resonates today. Caro is a master biographer and his portrait of Coke Stevenson is perhaps my favorite of the many portraits contained in any of the four volumes.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The penultimate chapter in which Coke Stevenson retires to his Texas ranch to live out the remainder of his life.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

I think Grover Gardner was perfect for this project. He's not flashy but he is there for the distance. He's a great traveling companion who never annoys.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The price of victory. The consolation of defeat.

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Good not Great

Robert Caro is a great author and this is a great addition to his series on Lyndon Johnson. The one issue I have with the Means of Ascent is that it is very repetitive from his first Johnson Book "The Path to Power", with there being many recaps of anecdotes from the first.

Still, the research and depth is brilliant and Caro paints an accurate picture of the former President. If you are a fan of Johnson this series will still be the definitive work and there is a lack of bias that makes Johnson feel human. I would recommend this series to anyone with the understanding that it is tough to top the first book.

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Wonderful! Don't let the length turn you off

The sheer length of the entire series (150 hours!) and the subject matter (Lyndon Johnson?) made it a difficult decision to start but it is terrific. As others have mentioned, it isn't just about LBJ, but you really get to learn a lot about the social history of the times - mostly in 1940's Texas, but nationally as well.

And LBJ - what a fascinating, amoral character. Robert Caro mentions in the introduction that this volume differs from the others in that in the other volumes there is a contrast between light and dark in Johnson's personality and accomplishments, but in this book it is only dark. Yes, that is true, but the audacity of LBJ is just amazing to be a part of. Caro's writing style really makes you feel you are there.

It is hard not to compare politics then and now - there are plenty of similarities, but my one takeaway is that we survived corrupt politicians then and we can survive them now. In many cases, it shows that we are so much better off with the information and transparency we have now. It is hard to remember or acknowledge that sometimes, but compared to what was going on in the late 40's, we are incredibly enlightened and transparent. It also shows how truly hard it is to steal an election - even successfully.

So take the plunge and listen. It is time well spent.

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Another majestic feat!

I can't imagine anyone having read the Path to Power who wouldn't automatically get this but for the sake of the ultra cautious: this one is also fantastic and if you haven't read Path to Power, it' fine to start here, because you will want to read this again, after you ultimately read Path to Power. I've read the entire series, as yet incomplete, three times and I'm about to again. It's that good.

I just finished reading Ready Player One, one of the most entertaining and immersive books I've ever read. But the thrill is just about gone on the second listen. Not so with the world's best biographies, and this is surely one of them: they get better with each listen because they're so packed with information and perspective, that you just become more and more thrilled each time.

I can't wait for the next volume, and I wish they would clone Mr. Caro so he could write twice as fast!

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Just Wish Grover Could Pronounce Ickes

My only complaint is Grover didn't pronounce Ickes correctly. I kept yelling at him in the car but it did no good. :-))

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Not so cuddly LBJ

If you could sum up Means of Ascent in three words, what would they be?

Whatever it takes.

LBJ is described as the politician who will find out what needs to be done in order to achieve and make sure it happens

Who was your favorite character and why?

This being a biography my favorite character would have to be the subject.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

Although Mr Gardner does not seek to impersonate characters, the delineation between them is plain.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The lawman from the Texas Rangers is investigating voting irregularities and comes across a mob of criminals and seems to flick them away with a gesture and a few words.

Any additional comments?

This work gave me a perspective on LBJ I had been unaware of prior to listening. Mr Gardner is a master at his craft and I hope to pursue remaining books in this series.

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Masterful Investigative History

What did you love best about Means of Ascent?

I liked the sheer honesty of it, the detailed integrity of the reporting, and the courage to follow heroic tangents like the extensive, reverential treatment of Coke R. Stevenson, Johnson's opponent the notorious 1948 Senate race.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Without question, it's Mr. Caro's focus on completeness, of telling the whole story of this tragic flawed hero of American politics, warts and all--leading us to reexamine what it is exactly we want in a leader.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

Its compelling authority and intelligent pacing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Probably the moment when Johnson, in an interview with an antagonistic biographer, produced the photo of (Ballot) Box 13, that had "mysteriously disappeared"--almost as though he glorified in being a rogue.

Any additional comments?

Must read!

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